Folding leg for card tables and the like



Sept; 6, l932.- F. KUSTERLE.

FOLDING LEG FOR CARD TABLES AND THE LIKE Filed March 17, 1930 .illlTlll.

F kliuflzmfi' ran Kusfer/e. I

Patented I Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT- OFFICE FRANK KUSTERLE, OFKEN'OS HA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO SIMMONS COMPANY, OF

4 NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE' FOLDING LEG FOR CARDTABLES AND THE LIKE I Application filed. March 17, 1930. Serial No.436,290.

This invention relates to folding table structures and more particularlyto such structures usually referred to as folding card tables.

The main object of the invention are to provide a folding legarrangement which is easy to manipulate, i. e. to fold and unfold; toprovide folding legs and a mounting therefor in a card or like tablewhich will be effective to rigidly support the table top; to provide anarrangement in which the legs will be eflectively' locked in both theirextended and folded positions; and in general, it is the object of myinvention to provide a simple, durable, and generally improved structureof the kind referred to.

Other objects and advantages will be understood by reference to thefollowing specification and accompanying drawing in which I haveillustrated one corner portion of a folding card table structureincluding 'afolding leg embodying a preferred form of my invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a bottom plan. Fig. 2 is a section on the line22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aperspective of a modified form of my mounting bracket, and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan showing the modified form of bracket inoperative position.-

Referring now to the drawing, my improved card table constructioncomprises a table top which, in the present instance, includes a topboard 5 having a suitable surface covering indicated at 6 and adependingside rail or side frame 7. The side frame 7 is desirably formed of metaltubing which is 001- lapsed to form the I-beam structure illus trated.The top part 5 may conveniently be secured to the side frame 7 by meansof clips 8 which are secured to theunder side of the to the upper edgeof the said side frame. It

will be understood that the side frame 7 is generally rectangular inplan and extendsaround the entire periphery of the table top so as toform a rigid support for the said top.

For supporting the table, I provide a folding leg structure at eachcorner of the top capable of being swung from operative or extendedposition to folded position adjacent the under side of the top part 5and inside of the side frame 7. For so mounting the leg, I provide a onepiece, inverted, substantially U-shaped bracket 11 which includes leg orside portions 12 and 13 and a connecting web 14.

- The U-shaped bracket 11 is further pro vided with Wing portions 15 and16 which are formed integral with and extend from the legs or sides 12and 13 respectivel of the U-shaped bracket. The wing 15 is cutintermediate its length at substantially right angles to form a legportion 17 which is disposed against the inside of one side art of theframe 7 and secured thereto, pre erably by spot welding as indicated at18. The other wing 16 is'more or less rebent with respect to the bracketside 13 from which it extends and is disposed against the inside of theadjacent part of the side frame 7 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 and securedthereto b suitable means such asspot welding as ind!- cated at 19.

The leg 10 is mountedbetween the sides 12 and 13 of the bracket forpivotal move.

ment and for limited longitudinal moveelongated openings 21-21 providedin op posite sides of the leg 10.- It will be seen that the leg may swinaround the pivot pin 20 and also be moved ongitudinally relative to thesides of the bracket by reason of the elongated slots'21 in the leg.

Means for locking the leg in both extended and v folded position isprovided in tive ends of the locking pin 22 to resist unthis instanceincludes a cross pin or bar 22 which extends through the leg 10 andwhich has end portions 23 23 projecting laterally from the oppositesides of the'leg'.

provided with recesses such as indicated at 2424 for receiving theprojecting end portions of the cross pin 22 when the le is in extendedposition, the leg being thereby locked against swinging movement. Thepin 22 is desirably anchored in place in the leg 10, one means foranchoring the leg being by welding as indicated at 25. A tension spring26 extending between the pivot pin 20 and locking pin 22 serves toyieldingly maintain the leg in locked position as clearly shown in Figs.2 and 3. For locking the leg in folded position adjacent the under sideof the top as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2, the sides 12 and13.0f the bracket are provided with a recessed portion 27 which forms ashoulder 28 adapted to engage the respecfolding movement of the leg asclearly indicated in Fig. 2.

v The above described leg mounting has been found to be exceptionallysatisfactory in that it is cheap to manufacture while pro-- viding astable or rigid connection between the leg and table top. Rigidity isdue partly to the arrangement of the leg mountin bracket. It will benoted that the sides 0 the bracket are rigidly connected by the integralconnection 14 and also that the sides 12 and 13 are rigidly supported bythe attaching wings 15 and 16 which are secured to the side frame. Theangular relation of the wings and their respective sides forms, ineffect, angle iron side portions for the bracket, and such angle ironstructure is exceptionally stilf and rigid.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated a modified bracket structure whichincludes sides 30 and 31 and an integral connecting portion 32 formingan inverted substantially U-shaped element. The folding leg indicated at33 is pivotally and longitudinally [movably mounted between the sides ofthe bracket in substantially the same manner as above described inconnection with Figs. 1

to 3 inclusive.

The modified form of bracket, is rovided with a wing or leg 34'extending rom the side 30, bent at substantiall thereto and secured toan ad j the side frame 35. The side 31 isprovided right angles acentpart of with wings or legs 36 and 37 extending from opposite endsthereof and each bent at an angle thereto as shown. The wing 36corresponds to the wing 16 of the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive and the wing 37 is an additional wing. Both wings are securedto adjacent portions of the side frame 35 and serve to rigidly supportthe side 31 against flexing under ordinary The respective sides 12 and13 of the bracket arev I frame.

strains. The additional wing 37 imparts considerable additional rigidityto the bracket so that the'table structure is more ri idly supported bythe legs.

n the modified structure just described, the leg is held in extendedposition by means of notches '38 and 39 in the sides 30 and 31respectively of the bracket which receives the ends of a cross pin 40.The leg is maintained in folded position by a shoulder 41 on the side 30which coacts with one end of the said cross pin. The attaching Wing 37being preferably provided of full width as shown, causes the side 31 tobe narrowed slightly so that it is inconvenient to provide a shoulderthereon to help support the leg in folded position. However, inasmuchasthe leg is not subjected to great strains when in folded position, theomission of one of the locking shoulders is not objectionable.

It will be noted that the leg mounting and its locking means ispractically concealed by reason of its being located substantially inits entirety within the width of the side It is, of course, noted thatin the present illustration, 'a lower mai'ginal portion of the sides ofthe bracket depend slightly below the bottom of the side frame, but t isis practically unno'ticeable inasmuch as the parts are comparativelysmall and set back fromthe outer surface of the side frame. The lengthsof the sides may, of course, be shortened somewhat but it is desirableto maintain such leligth as will provide sufiicient distance between theivot pin and locking pin to afford a rigid lock against pivotal movementof the leg. Also, it will be noted that the leg is a snug fit betweenthe sides of the bracket whereby shifting or wabbling of the legcross-wise of the bracket is efiectively resisted.

v I am aware that changes may be made in the structure above describedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of whichshould be determined by reference to the following claims, the samebeing construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of theart.

I claim as my invention: j 1. In a folding table of the class described,the combination of a table top including a depending side frame, a legfor supporting said top, means connecting said leg and top, said legbeing movable aboutsaid supporting means from extended position tofolded position adjacent the under side of the top, said means includinga one piece, substantially U-shaped bracket fixed to said top and havingthe web of said U-substantially paral-' J 3. 6pm

and means for locking said leg position.

2. In a substantially square top member and a frame dependingfrom saidmember around its periphery, a leg for su porting said table top, meansconnecting sai leg and table top, said leg being movableaboutsaidsupporting means fromextendedposition to folded position adjacent theunder side of saidjtopj member, saidmeans including aone piece,-

substantially U-shaped bracket fixed to said top and having the webiofsaid U substaI iporting said table top, means connecting said leg tosaid table top, said leg being movable about sa d supporting means fromextended position to folded position adjacent the;

tially parallel with the; table top and wing portions extendinglaterally from the depending legs of said U, said wings being disposedin angular relation relative to each other and being 'espectivelysecured t'o'-adja-. cent sides of saidframein' i -corner thereof, saidleg being pivotally mounted between the legs of said U, and'means'forlocking said leg in extended position.

3. In afolding table of theiclassdescribed, the conibinationof a tabletop, a legf'or supunder side of the top, said means includingaone piece,substantially U-shapedbracgiet fixed to said top and having the web ofsaid U substantially parallel with the table top and wing portionsextending laterallyfrom. the depending legs thereof-and secured. to:

said top, sa d" leg being mounted between the sides of said bracket forpivotal movement and for limited longitudinalmovement, and meansengageable as an incident to saidlongitudinal leg 'move'inent 'forlocking the leg in extended position.

4. In a folding'table'of the class described, the comibna'tion of atable top, aileg for supporting said table top, means connectingsaid legto said table top,sai d leg beinginovable about said supporting meansfrom extended position to folded position adjacent "the un-j der side ofthe top,'said means including a one I piece,- substantially U-shapedbracket-fixedto said top and having theyveb of saidU sub- "stantiallyparallel 'with'fthe; table top" and wing portions extendin latera1lyfromf.tlie depending legs of said l j aiid secured to said top, said legbeing mo'u'nted betweenthe sides of said bracket for pivotalmoveinentand for limitedlongitudi'nal movement, interlocking means carried by one,o'fi'said bracket sides i and said legfor lockingi'the legextendedposition, said interlocking means 1 being en gageable as, an incidentto; said longitudinal le movement, and spring means for urging said leginto locked .POSltlOIl.

5. In a folding table of the class described, the combination of a tabletop including a depending side frame, a legfor supporting said foldingtable of the class described, the combination of a table top including atop, saidleg being I porting means from extended positionfto ing sideframe, said le ng said leg in ing said leg locked table top,

table top, means connecting said leg and said {table top, saidlegbeingmovable about said support-mg means from extended position to Ifolded position adjacent the under side of the top,

said means including a one-piece, inverted, substantiall lU-shapedbracket fixed tos'aid top andhaving wing portions extendinglaterallyfrom,cthe"sides thereof and secured to 'said'dependingfside frame, saidlegbeing mounted'betwe'en said bracket sides for pivotal. movement, andffor limited longitudi nal movement relative to the bracket, and ingterlocking means carried by one of said bracket sides and said leg forlocking the leg in extended position,: said means being an gageable anddisengageable as an incident to' )said limited longitudinal leg movement1 6. In a folding table of the class described,

said table top, means connecting said-leg and movable about sa d sup}ziov the combination of-a table top including a depending side frame, a;leg for supporting folded )osition adjacent the under side of a a partprojecting laterally from the leg,-one

' of said bracket sides being provided with a recess for receiving saidprojecting part when the leg is in extended position, said locking meansbeing engageable and disengageableas an incident'to'said limited lonitudinal leg movement, and yielding means or maintaijn in extendedposition.

In a folding tableof the class described,

i the combination of a table top including a'd'epend ing'side'frame,alegfor supportingsaid' means connecting said legand .t'op,

said leg be ng extended position comprising iie movable about saidsupporting 7 cans from extended position tO fOldQClQPOSif tion adjacentthe under side. of said tabletop, v

' said means includinga; one-piece, inverted; .substantiallyU shaped a Itopian'd having vingp'ortions extend ng laterally from the dQPQn inglegs ofsaid and secured to saidd'e ending side frame,said leg beinmounted etween', the sides off said longitudinal movement relative to-'-'the bracket, means fo'r l'ocking said legin extend" ed positioncomprising a locking 'pin'extend- ,-in'g transverselythiou'gh said legand ihav'in'g an end portion projecting laterally from-the V v, 156bracket for pivotal movement and for limited leg on one side thereof,one fsaidbracket sides being provided'with a recess fonifec'eiw ing saidprojecting end portion when;'th e leg I is n extended position, andyielding means for maintaining said parts in locked position.

'8. In a folding table of the class described, the combination of atabletop including a depending side frame, a leg for supporting saidtable top, means connecting said leg and top, said leg being movableabout said supporting means from extended position to folded positionadjacent the under side of said table top, said means including aone-piece,

inverted, substantially U-shaped bracket fixed to said top and havingwing portions extending laterally from the depending legs of said U andsecured to said depending side frame, said leg being mounted between thesides of said bracket for pivotal movement and for limited longitudinalmovement relative to the bracket, means for locking said leg in extendedposition comprising a locking pin extending transversely through saidleg and having an end portion projecting laterally from the leg on oneside thereof, one of said bracket sides being provided with a pair ofrecesses for respectively receiving said projecting end portion when theleg is in extended and folded positions, and yielding means foreffecting lon itudinal movement of said leg'to cause sai projecting endportion to enter said'recesses.

9. In a folding table of the class described, the combination of a tabletop including a depending side frame, a leg for supporting said top,means connecting said leg and. top, said leg being movable about-said suporting means from extended position to fol ed position adjacent theunder side of the top, said means including a one piece, inverted,subative to said bracket, a pin projecting laterally from said leg andengageable with the recesses of said bracket, and resilient means urgingsaid pin into engagement withthe adjacent edge of said bracket.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a table tophaving a depending marginal flange, a tubular supporting leg, meansconnecting said leg and top, said leg being movable about saidconnecting means from extended position to folded position adjacent theunderside of said top, said means consisting of a unitary U-shapedbracket having the web thereof fixed to said table top and having itslegs depending there from and having offset portions extending laterallyfrom the legs of said bracket and secured to said marginal flange, thelegs of said bracket having recesses in the lower edge and one side edgethereof for lockin said supporting leg in extended and foldefpositionsrespectively, a pintle pivotally connecting said leg to said bracket,said leg being longitudinally slotted to permit movement thereofrelative to said bracket, a transverse pin extending through said leg ata point spaced from said pintle and projecting lat: erally from saidleg, a projecting portion of said pin being engageable with the recessesof said bracket, and a helical spring having its ends secured to saidpintle and said pin, respectively, for urging the projecting portion ofsaid pin into engagement with the adjacent edge of said bracket.

. FRAN K KUSTERLE.

' stantially U-shaped bracket fixed to said top and having a wingportion extending laterally from one of the sides of said bracket andsecured to said frame, a pair of wing portions extending angularly inopposite directions respectively from the opposite ends of the otherside of said bracket and secured to said frame, said le bein pivotallymounted between said 'brac et i es, and means for lockin said leg inextended position.

10. n a device of the class described, the combination of a table tophaving a depending marginal flange, a supporting leg, means connectingsaid 1e and top, said leg being movable about sai connecting means fromextended position to folded position adjacent the underside of said top,said means consisting of a unitary 'U-shaped bracket havin the webthereof fixed to said table top and having its legsdepending therefromand havingofi'set portions extending laterally from the legs of saidbracketvand secured to said marginal flange, the legs of said brackethaving recesses in the lower edge and one side edge thereof for lockingsaid supporting leg in extended and.fol' ed position respectively, apintlepivotally connecting said leg to said bracket, said leg beinglongitudinally slotted to permit movement thereof rel-

